A Hull woman has won her fight for parents grieving the loss of a child to be given two weeks paid leave from work.

Kayleigh Pepper's brother, Rich, 25, died after he was stabbed to death outside his home in Egton Street, east Hull, in June 2015.

Since his death, Miss Pepper has set up the RICH Foundation in his memory to support bereaved children and families.

After months of fighting and a total of 1,540 emails to MPs across the country, employees with a minimum of 26 weeks continuous service will now be eligible for statutory parental bereavement pay.

Kayleigh Pepper, the sister of Rich Pepper who was stabbed to death outside his home in Egton Street

Miss Pepper, 31, of Bransholme, said: "Over the last two years I have volunteered as a peer support worker in different parts of the country and I have met so many families who have just been left to continue with their life the best they can when grieving the loss of a child.

"Apart from bereavement counselling there is nothing for families to help them in their grief. There is no such thing as a bereavement payment and no paid time off work for bereavment.

"Granted, this may not always be needed, but how can parents just be expected to return back to their everyday lives having lost a child?

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"I am not familiar with a lot of our legislations put in place to protect us. Actually there aren’t many that ‘stand’ as they read.

"Having realised I couldn't change what wasn't there for my parents, I wanted to try, with some help, to put something in place for other parents who one day may sadly have to grieve the loss of their child.

"I also wanted to try and give families time to actually come to terms with what they’re going through. So I made the decision to email some of our MPs. I wanted to find out if there was anyone else trying to raise the same concerns as me."

SADLY MISSED: Rich Pepper who was stabbed to death in Egton Street, east Hull

Working with Thirsk and Malton Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake and parents who had suffered the devastation of losing a child, a total of 43,241 people signed a petition giving the support needed to have someone represent the Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill in the House if Commons.

Mr Hollinrake said: "Sadly, I have had constituents who have gone through this dreadful experience and while some parents prefer to carry on working, others need time off.

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"This new law will give employed parents a legal right to two weeks paid leave, giving them that all-important time and space away from work to grieve at such a desperately sad time."

MPs voted in favour and the bill was passed to guarantee paid bereavement time for parents who lose a child.

Miss Pepper said: "This new law isn't just about listening to stories and winning votes, it’s about what it represents, and that’s compassion.

"It lets those families know that we do care about their loss and that we do care that they are grieving. It’s acknowledging that their child did exist, and that is one of the most important things we must remember when we learn of a parent who has tragically lost a child.

"Sadly, there is no Victims Law, and we have had to suffer in such ways I never thought possible.